Just when Fossil fans expected a smartwatch powered by the Snapdragon 4100 chip, Fossil, however, released Gen 5e – a lower-end version of Gen 5 powered by the outdated Snapdragon 3100 chip. It’s the same chip powering Gen 4 Sport – which is the first fossil smartwatch to be powered by the 3100 chip. This post takes a look at the difference between Fossil Gen 5E vs Gen 4 Sport – which is better? Read on to find out my verdict.
Fossil Gen 5E vs Gen 4 Sport Specifications Compared
| Fossil Gen 5e (44mm) | Fossil Gen 4 Sport | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
ABOUT DEVICE | ||
| Device name | Fossil Gen 5e (44mm) | Fossil Gen 4 Sport |
| Device type | Classic/Fitness smartwatch | Sport/Fitness smartwatch |
| Predessesor | Fossil Gen 4 Q Explorist | Fossil Gen 3 Sport (Q Control) |
| Successor | -- | __ |
| Released date | November, 2020 | November, 2018 |
| Ideal for | Men | Unisex |
DISPLAY | ||
| Display type | AMOLED (Always-on) | AMOLED |
| Display size | 1.2 inches | 1.2 inch (41mm) 1.3 inch (43mm) |
| Display resolution | 416 x 416 pixels | 390 x 390 pixel |
| Pixel density | 328 ppi | -- |
| Input type | Touchscreen plus 1 rotating crown | Touchscreen 3 physical buttons (1 digital crown, 2 programmable) |
| Always-on | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable watch face | Yes | Yes |
BODY | ||
| Shape | Circular | Circular |
| Dimension | 44 x 44 x 12 mm | 43 x 43 x 12mm 41 x 41 x 11mm |
| Weight | -- | -- |
| Casing material | Stainless steel | Aluminum |
| Strap/band material | Stainless steel Leather Silicone | Silicone |
| Bezel Material | Stainless steel | Ceramics |
| Strap size | 22mm | 22mm (43mm) 18mm (41mm) |
| Interchangeable band | Yes, 22mm | Yes, 22mm, 18mm |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla glass | Corning Gorilla glass |
| Water resistant/Protection | Yes, 3ATM | Yes, 5ATM |
| Swim-proof | Yes | Yes |
| Color(s) | Black steel/silicone Black steel/black steel Black steel/brown leather | Black Gray Red Green Blue |
MEMORY | ||
| RAM | 1GB | 0.5GB |
| Internal storage | 4GB | 4GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No |
CONNECTIVITY | ||
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth smart v4.2 LE | Bluetooth smart v4.2 LE |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | No |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Payment system | Google pay | Google pay |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY | ||
| Technology | No | No |
| SIM | No | No |
| Band | No | No |
NOTIFICATIONS | ||
| Email alert | Yes | Yes |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes |
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes |
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes |
| Weather | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party apps | Yes | Yes |
| Text response | Yes | __ |
FITNESS TRACKING | ||
| Sleep apnea | No | No |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max. | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen | No | No |
| Blood pressure | No | No |
| Menstrual cycle tracking | No | No |
| Swim tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Under-water heart rate tracking | No | No |
| Preloaded maps | No | No |
| On-screen workout modes | No | No |
| Triathlon mode | __ | __ |
| ECG Tracking | No | No |
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes | Yes |
| Safety tracking | No | No |
MEDIA | ||
| Audio | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 |
| Music streaming | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth music | Yes | Yes |
| Radio | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | No |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No |
SENSORS | ||
PLATFORM | ||
| Operating system (OS) | Wear OS | Wear OS |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 3100 |
| CPU | -- | 1.2 GHz Quad-core 4x ARM Cortex A7 |
| GPU | -- | Qualcomm Adreno 304 GPU |
BATTERY | ||
| Type of battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable Li-ion battery |
| Battery capacity | __ | __ |
| Battery life | Standby: 3 days+ Mixed usage: 1 day+ | Standby:2 days+ Mixed usage: ~ 24 hrs |
| Charging type | Inductive charging magnet | Inductive charging magnet |
| Charging time | About 1-2 hours | About 1-2 hours |
| Battery saver mode | Yes | Yes |
| Solar power | No | No |
| Rapid charging | Yes | Yes |
CLOCK FEATURES | ||
| Time/Date | Yes | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes | Yes |
OTHER FUNCTIONS | ||
| Control camera | Yes | Yes |
| Music control | Yes | Yes |
| Find phone | Yes | Yes |
MISC | ||
| Compatibility | Android 6.0 (excluding Go edition)+ iOS 10.0+ | Android 6.0 (excluding Go edition)+ iOS 10.0+ |
| Companion app | Fossil Q app | Fossil Q app |
| Voice command | Yes | Yes |
BOX CONTENTS | ||
| Fossil Gen 5e (44mm) | Fossil Gen 4 Sport | |
| Straps | Straps | |
| Inductive charging magnet | Inductive charging magnet | |
| Quick start guide | Quick start guide | |
| NOTE: We can't guarantee that all the information on this table are 100% correct. Read full disclaimer. Please, report an error. | ||
| Official Site | Official Site | |
Which is Better?
There isn’t much difference between Gen 5e and Gen 4 Sport except for the different materials, sizes, a loudspeaker in Gen 5e, performance, and probably battery life. Both smartwatches have the same fitness tracking features that include the ability to track your sleep, heart rate, calories, steps, and as well have inbuilt GPS that allows you to track outdoor activities.
However, while Gen 5e comes in 44mm and 42mm, Gen 4 Sport comes in 43mm and 41mm. Moreover, while Gen 5e has a stainless steel case and one physical button, Gen 4 Sport has a case made of aluminum with three physical buttons by the side. While both smartwatches are powered by Snapdragon 3100, Gen 5e has a higher 1GB RAM compared to 0.5GB of Gen 4 Sport which certainly represents slightly better performance, especially with an under-performing 3100 chip. Beyond these, while both smartwatches have a microphone that allows you to access Google assistant, Gen 5e also has a loudspeaker that enables you to make and receive calls from the watch when the connected phone is nearby.
In other words, Gen 5e made of steel is more durable, and is also a more comprehensive smartwatch, thanks to the presence of a loudspeaker that enables Bluetooth calling from the watch.
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Hi! I’m Jude, the chief editor at Smartwatchseries.com
I’m a graduate of biochemistry, a 3D artist and a passionate fitness enthusiast. On here, I and other smartwatch fans work hard to help you find the right smartwatch for you with our guides, reviews, and comparisons.
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